4 Hybrid Graduate Programs That Deliver a Huge ROI

Hybrid graduate programs are fast becoming a popular option, alongside the already in-demand programs taught 100% online or completely in person.

The reasons are myriad: They blend the convenience of attending online classes with traditional instruction, allowing students the flexible learning that caters to both the working professionals hoping to advance their careers with a master’s degree and those who wish to explore a topic in greater depth on their own time.

Sacred Heart University’s graduate-level hybrid degrees deliver exceptional return on investment (ROI). Below is a look at four good examples that offer a healthy balance of classroom learning and hands-on training and online study.

Family Nurse Practitioner-Doctor of Nursing Practice

Given the aging of the U.S. population, the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), a leading organization that works to improve medical education and health care outcomes, predicts that, by 2034, the number of physicians will have fallen to up to 124,000 short of what’s needed to avoid long wait times in both primary and specialty care areas. The DNP degree with an FNP certification addresses the shortage by training nurses to deliver quality primary health care to entire families over their lifetimes.

SHU’s program allows students to earn a doctoral degree, which includes courses offering a concentration in one of nursing’s most popular advanced practice areas, all in one hybrid program. A hybrid schedule can be key when embarking on this challenging and rewarding career. Today, 27 states allow FNPs to practice with full autonomy, meaning they do not need supervision from an MD or DO as they work with families to diagnose, treat and manage illnesses and guide patients to develop healthful practices.

Students who thrive in this hybrid program will likely work in nonemergency, ambulatory environments, giving them time to build close relationships with their patients and see them throughout their lifetimes. At Sacred Heart, the DNP program consists of 69 credit hours, which students usually complete over three years, although some students opt to stretch the program to a fourth year. Courses are offered full- or part-time, and hybrid coursework only requires students, who must hold a BSN degree and RN licensure, to come to campus an average of six days per semester.

Career Outcomes for FNP-DNP

The job landscape is truly bright for this career path. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 45.7% employment growth for nurse practitioners from now until 2031. The 2022 median pay for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners was $125,900, compared to $81,220 for RNs.

Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Over the last decade, many businesses and workplaces have invested significant resources in the policies and procedures that help guide the employee hiring and retention process. Especially with the rise in work-from-home, businesses are eager to keep their employees happy, healthy, satisfied and productive while also fostering employee innovation, a formula for business success.

All these objectives can be accomplished using the psychological principles found in industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology. Sacred Heart’s MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology equips students to help organizations increase efficiency and employee satisfaction using these principles. Students will learn to apply a broad range of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary knowledge and skills in multicultural and global settings and engage in and apply evidence-based research in professional settings.

Students can complete this hybrid master’s degree program in one calendar year with SHU’s unique cohort-style model. The degree is delivered in a series of six eight-week modules. Students will attend courses in the evenings twice per week, taking two courses per module, with in-course classes supplemented with online work to accelerate completion time.

Career Outcomes for I/O Psychology

A master’s degree is generally the minimum requirement for entering professional practice in the field of I/O psychology. While earning an advanced degree will require additional time, effort and resources, the expected return on this investment is well worth it. U.S. News & World Report named I/O psychology one of its 100 Best Jobs for 2023, noting it pays well, is challenging and offers a solid work-life balance and opportunities for advancement.

Master of Science in Accounting

There’s an unprecedented need for CPAs and skilled accountants with advanced degrees in the U.S., in large part due to the expanding global economy, changing regulations and tighter integration across key business functions.

Launched in the U.S. in January 2024, the new CPA licensure model offers a strong core in accounting, auditing, tax and technology. Each candidate must choose a discipline in which to demonstrate deeper skills and knowledge.

Given the variety of industries that require accountants, Sacred Heart University’s MS in accounting prepares you for a myriad of challenging positions in high-powered organizations. The program offers three concentrations geared to meeting the needs of specific discipline areas of the new CPA model.

• Business Analysis & Reporting: This track focuses on financial statement accounts, select transactions, not-for-profit and governmental accounting, as well as advanced data analytics.
• Information Systems & Forensic Accounting: Covering IT and data governance, as well as legal analysis of financial data, you’ll deal with the principles, systems and technology in business processes.
• Tax Compliance & Planning: The requirements and processes for individual and institutional compliance with tax rules, policies and reporting are the focus of this concentration.

Online courses are blended with monthly Saturday seminars in a cohort model designed to be completed in one year.

Career Outcomes

The world needs accountants. And the median salary for accountants and auditors in May 2022 was $78,000, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Candidates with advanced accounting degrees enjoy many career paths, including: